Best Drawing Paper of 2025

Ann Hale Avatar
Ann Hale
Last Updated: Jan 14, 2025

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Drawing paper is an essential item for any artist, whether they are a beginner or a professional. It comes in a variety of sizes and textures, allowing artists to choose the perfect paper for their specific needs. The most common types of drawing paper are smooth, medium, and rough, each providing a different surface for drawing. Drawing paper can be used with a variety of mediums, including pencils, charcoal, pastels, and ink. It is also available in different weights, ranging from lightweight for sketching to heavy for more detailed drawings. With so many options available, artists can find the perfect drawing paper to bring their creative visions to life.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets Cover #TOP 1
PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets Cover #TOP 2
Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742 Cover #TOP 3
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Drawing Paper

#TOP 1

PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets

4739
White
9" x 12"
PACON Drawing Paper, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets Cover
Pacon Drawing Paper, White, Standard Weight, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets

PACON Drawing Paper is a high-quality drawing paper that comes in a pack of 500 sheets. Made of 100% sulphite, this pure white paper is perfect for watercolor, crayon, pencil, and charcoal. With its standard weight, it provides an ideal surface for all types of drawing and painting. The paper’s pure white color helps to make your artwork stand out. Whether you are a professional artist, a student, or just someone who enjoys drawing, PACON Drawing Paper is an excellent choice for all your artistic needs.

What We Like
Good for kids' art
Great for sketching
Nice smooth texture
Perfect for sheet music
Great value for journals
What We Don't Like
Some sheets have flaws
Rather thin for art paper
#TOP 2

Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets

004109
Manila
9"x12"
Pacon Drawing Paper, 9"X12", 500 Sheets Cover
Pacon 004109 Cream Manila Drawing Paper, 50 lbs., 9 x 12, 500 Sheets/Pack

Pacon Drawing Paper is a medium tooth paper that is perfect for all types of dry media. It has a great texture that makes it suitable for beginning drawing and sketching. The paper works well with crayon, charcoal, pencil, and tempera paint. With 500 sheets and measuring 9" x 12", this drawing paper is a great value. Additionally, it is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly option.

What We Like
Affordable price
Large quantity (500 sheets)
Good for sketching and studies
Decent texture for pencils
Warm cream tone
What We Don't Like
Not suitable for wet media
Packaging could be improved
#TOP 3

Pacon Drawing Paper P4742

PAC4742
White
12"x18"
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742 Cover
Pacon Drawing Paper P4742, White, Standard Weight, 12" x 18", 500 Sheets

Pacon Drawing Paper P4742 is a lightweight, acid-free and recyclable paper that is perfect for beginning drawing and sketching. It measures 12" x 18" and includes 500 sheets. Its medium tooth makes it suitable for all types of dry media.

What We Like
Nice weight for various uses
Large size for creativity
Reasonable price for bulk
Good for sketching ideas
Arrives in perfect condition
What We Don't Like
Thin paper may feel flimsy
May not suit heavy mediums
#TOP 4

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500

Sax
053931
Extra-White
9 x 12 Inches
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500 Cover
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500 - 053931

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is a high quality, standard weight paper that is perfect for artists of all levels. This paper accepts both dry and wet media, making it versatile for a variety of uses. Whether you're using markers, crayons, paints, or other mediums, the colors will pop against the extra crisp white of this paper. The exceptional body and strength of this heavy weight paper provides the ideal texture for all dry media renderings, and it erases well. With its durable construction, Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is the best value for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or right at home.

What We Like
Great for dry sketching
Excellent value for money
Large pack of 500 sheets
Sturdy for various media
Bright white color
What We Don't Like
Can be a bit rough on edges
Flimsy with excessive water

UCreate 9" x 12" Art Paper

4831
White
9" x 12"
UCreate 9" x 12" Art Paper Cover
UCreate Mixed Media Art Paper, Heavyweight, 9" x 12", 500 Sheets

The UCreate Art Paper is ideal for all your artistic needs. This heavyweight sulphite paper features a natural color and a medium tooth surface, making it perfect for various media. Whether you want to sketch with pencils, add color with colored pencils, or create dramatic effects with charcoal, this paper can handle it all. With a generous pack of 500 sheets, you won't run out of space for your creativity anytime soon. Plus, being acid-free and recyclable, it’s a smart choice for eco-conscious artists.

What We Like
Thicker than standard printer paper
Great value for quantity
Durable for various media
Suitable for kids' art
Good for mixed media projects
What We Don't Like
Not ideal for serious watercolor
#TOP 6

School Smart 85604 Drawing Paper, Pack of 500

085604
Soft White
9 x 12 Inches
School Smart 85604 Drawing Paper, Pack of 500 Cover
School Smart - 85604 Value Drawing Paper, 50 lb., 9 x 12 Inches, Soft White, Pack of 500

The School Smart 85604 Drawing Paper is a versatile, standard weight paper that is perfect for a variety of uses. With a soft eggshell white color and excellent texture, it is great for use with pencils, crayons, and other dry drawing materials. It is strong, durable, and ideal for artists of all levels. The substantial ream provides a great value for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or home use.

What We Like
Great for Foundation Paper Piecing
Good price for drawing paper
Ideal for finger painting
Basic drawing paper for kids
What We Don't Like
Thin paper, markers bleed through
Inconsistent weight and quality
#TOP 7

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 80 lb, 9 x 12 Inches

Sax
053943
Extra-White
9 x 12 Inches
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 80 lb, 9 x 12 Inches Cover
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 80 lb, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500 - 053943

This high-quality, standard weight, 100% sulphite paper is perfect for artists of all levels and accepts both dry and wet media, including watercolor, tempera, and brushed-applied ink. The paper has exceptional body, strength, and erasability, and its texture is ideal for all dry media renderings. It is also suitable for arts and crafts, note-taking, and more. The brilliant white stock enhances colored pencil, charcoal, and heavy black pencil drawings, and colors from any medium pop against the extra crisp white. The paper comes in a substantial ream of 500 sheets, providing great value for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or home use.

What We Like
Excellent value for bulk paper
Good thickness and quality
Versatile for various media
Minimal show-through with ink
Recommended for practice and workshops
What We Don't Like
Some pages slightly uneven
Can curl with wet media
#TOP 8

Pacon Drawing Paper, 6" x 9"

PAC4729
6" x 9"
Pacon Drawing Paper, 6" x 9" Cover
Pacon Medium Weight Drawing Paper, 6" x 9", White, 500 Sheets (PAC4729)

Pacon Drawing Paper is a medium weight, acid-free paper with a medium toothy surface, perfect for dry media. With its 6" x 9" size, it is ideal for smaller art projects. The medium weight provides a sturdy surface that won't buckle easily when using heavier media. The medium toothy surface provides enough texture to hold on to dry media, such as charcoal or pastel, while also allowing for smooth blending. The acid-free quality ensures that your artwork will not deteriorate over time, making it a great choice for long-lasting projects.

What We Like
Sturdy surface
Ideal size for smaller projects
Medium toothy surface for dry media
#TOP 9

BEIBOON 100 Sheets Kids Drawing Paper

2330 100P
white100P
BEIBOON 100 Sheets Kids Drawing Paper Cover
100 Sheets Art Paper for Kids 9" x 12" Craft Drawing Paper for Kids Doodles and Sketching, Loose Sketch Paper for Kids Toddlers

BEIBOON Kids Drawing Paper is a fantastic bulk set of 100 sheets, each measuring 9 x 12 inches, perfect for your art projects at home or in school. The lightweight and high-quality paper works wonderfully with markers, crayons, pencils, and more, allowing you to explore your creativity freely. This versatile paper is suitable for both children and adults who love doodling and sketching. Its textured surface enhances your drawing experience, making it a great addition to classrooms or art classes, where imagination can flourish.

What We Like
Nice for sketching and doodling
Great size for kids
Good for crayons and pencils
Affordable individual pads
What We Don't Like
Thin paper quality
Flimsy feel
#TOP 10

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, Pack of 500

Sax
053925
Extra-White
9 x 12 Inches
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, Pack of 500 Cover
Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper, 50 lb, 9 x 12 Inches, Extra-White, Pack of 500 - 053925

Sax Sulphite Drawing Paper is high quality standard weight paper suitable for dry and wet media, including tempera, watercolor, and ink. Its exceptional body and strength make it perfect for all dry media renderings and it erases well. The paper is compatible with markers, crayons, paints, and more, making it ideal for artists of all levels. In addition, its extra-white color enhances colored pencil, heavy black pencil, and charcoal drawings, making colors pop. The paper is a strong and durable option for classrooms, offices, businesses, studios, or home use.

What We Like
Good thickness for drawing
Affordable bulk quantity
Durable compared to printer paper
Versatile for various media
Off-white color is easy on eyes
What We Don't Like
Slightly thin for painting
Packaging could be improved
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best paper for drawing?

Drawing paper is a heavier, and better-quality paper than sketching paper. It is commonly used for sketching and finished work. The ideal mediums used with drawing paper are graphite, charcoal, dry monochromes, soft pastel, oil pastel, markers and pen and ink.

2. What is drawing paper called?

Cartridge Paper – Best for Dry Media The paper most commonly associated with drawing is cartridge paper. It is so-called because it was used in the making of paper cartridges in the sixteenth century, holding the ammunition of gunpowder and bullets together for loading into hand-held firearms.

3. What are the two types of drawing paper?

There are several different types of art paper surfaces including Hot Pressed/Satinata/Liscia, Cold Pressed/Not/Fina and Rough/Torchon/Grossa.

4. What is the best drawing paper for beginners?

Strathmore drawing paper pads are a favorite among numerous artists because the brand has a variety of sizes that are suitable for drawing in various dry media. Plus, Strathmore offers the best price-to-quality ratio — a key factor especially for beginners who want a lot of practice.

Editor's Notes

During our drawing paper research, we found 24 drawing paper products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 27,167 customer reviews through our big data system to write the drawing paper list. We found that most customers choose drawing paper with an average price of $19.41.

The drawing paper are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of drawing paper, including Pacon, Sax, UCREATE, School Smart, BEIBOON. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 3,001 consumers with an average rating of 4.6.

Written by
Ann Hale Avatar

Ann Hale is a seamstress, pattern maker, and fashion designer with extensive sewing experience. She has worked in the fashion industry for over 10 years now after receiving Associates's Degree in fashion design in 2010. Also as a writer, she has many creative and unique insights when it comes to articles.

Drawing Paper Comparison Table

#TOP1
#TOP2
#TOP3
#TOP4
#TOP5
#TOP6
#TOP7
#TOP8
#TOP9
#TOP10
Brand Pacon Pacon Pacon Sax UCREATE School Smart Sax Pacon BEIBOON Sax
Color White Manila White Extra-White White Soft White Extra-White White, Medium Weight white100P Extra-White
Material Paper Paper Sulphite Sulphite Paper Paper Sulphite Paper Paper Sulphite
Paper Finish Watercolor Watercolor Watercolor Watercolor Matte Watercolor Watercolor Matte Watercolor Watercolor
Sheet Size 9 x 12 inches 9 x 12 inches 12 x 18 inch 9 x 12 Inches 9-inch by 12-inch 9 x 12 inches - 6x9 - 9 x 12 inches
FTB Score
ftb score rating icon 9.9
ftb score rating icon 9.8
ftb score rating icon 9.6
ftb score rating icon 9.6
ftb score rating icon 9.6
ftb score rating icon 9.6
ftb score rating icon 9.6
ftb score rating icon 9.4
ftb score rating icon 9.4
ftb score rating icon 9.3
Where to Buy